The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in South Kensington has opened a new exhibition titled ‘Lost Music Venues’, dedicated to celebrating the UK’s historic but now-closed grassroots and club spaces.

Launched on 30 May, the display brings together more than 150 objects sourced from across the country, including a significant number donated by members of the public following a call for artefacts and music-related memorabilia.

Supported by Music Venue Trust, the exhibition explores around 50 defunct clubs, concert halls and community spaces that played a vital role in shaping British music culture.The exhibition is structured into four thematic sections.

The first traces the evolution of dance halls and cinemas into purpose-built music venues in the 1980s, featuring items linked to iconic spaces such as Manchester’s The Haçienda and the original 1985 Astoria sign, loaned by Damon Albarn.

A second section focuses on the 1990s ‘toilet circuit’, highlighting grassroots venues like Moles in Bath, The Charlotte in Leicester and Manchester’s Roadhouse, alongside memorabilia such as Blur setlists, handwritten Oasis lyrics and a briefcase belonging to Pulp’s former tour manager Mark Webber.

Another section examines the impact of the internet and social media in the mid-2000s on music discovery, referencing artists such as Arctic Monkeys and Coldplay.

The final section addresses ongoing pressures facing grassroots venues, including noise complaints, licensing restrictions and the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.It also features contributions from advocacy groups such as Save Our Scene and No Place Left to Play.

The exhibition also highlights the evolution of UK club culture, from HIV and AIDS awareness campaigns to legendary venues such as Plastic People and The End.Curator Harriet Reed emphasised the importance of music venues as spaces of creativity, experimentation and community.

The opening comes amid continued concern for the UK’s live music infrastructure, with dozens of grassroots venues closing in recent years and many operating at a loss.

Debate continues around a proposed voluntary ticket levy on major arena and stadium shows to help sustain smaller venues and emerging artists, with potential government intervention if targets are not met by 2026.